Social media interactive advertising and purchase intention of the UAE customers: an empirical analysis

The advent of social media technologies, specifically the phenomenal growth of online and interactive advertising, has assisted various organizations in responding to and communicating with respective consumers at sustainable expenditures through various online channels, including social media, with immense potential and popularity levels. Limited studies have been conducted to examine the connection between consumer engagements by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and their respective promotional performances, as consumer purchase intention would be notably affected by the ability of an enterprise to interact and share information. Therefore, the current study aims to evaluate the impacts of attitude, brand loyalty, brand image, and brand awareness on interactive advertising and engagement with consumers via social media in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to promote SME digital lifestyle products. Accordingly, a quantitative survey was administered to evaluate 308 responses from customers of companies vending digital lifestyle products before conducting partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyze the collected data. The results demonstrated significant positive relationships between both brand loyalty and brand awareness and consumer purchase intention, respectively, whereas the relationships between attitude and brand image and consumer purchase intention were separately discovered to be insignificant

Dilema perumahan penduduk tempatan Bukit Fraser dalam arus pembangunan ekopelancongan (Ecotourism development and the housing dilemma of the local community: the case of Fraser’s Hill)

Konsep perumahan bukan hanya setakat menyediakan tempat berteduh, tetapi mencakupi komponen prasarana/infrastruktur, kemudahan awam dan perkhidmatan sosial, alam persekitaran dan komuniti. Setiap komponen yang tersenarai memerlukan perancangan penyediaan dan pengagihan supaya kawasan perumahan memenuhi kehendak penduduknya kerana ia melibatkan perubahan dalam masyarakat dan sistem sosial daripada keadaan yang dianggap tidak memuaskan kepada keadaan yang lebih baik akibat beberapa kriteria yang seragam dalam lingkungan yang dibentuk. Tujuan kajian ini ialah memantau kesejahteraan penduduk tempatan dalam aspek perumahan di Bukit Fraser yang merupakan destinasi eko pelancongan tersohor di negeri Pahang. Kajian mendapati saiz rumah, reka bentuk rumah, susunatur perumahan, rekabentuk jalanraya, bilangan lampu jalan, kemudahan tempat beribadah, kemudahan tempat pembuangan sampah sarap berpusat dan berhampiran kawasan tempat tinggal, dan kemudahan bagi penduduk lama sebagai faktor-faktor perumahan yang mempengaruhi kualiti kesejahteraan hidup penghuni di Bukit Fraser

Makna penyertaan dalam program pembangunan komuniti: satu tinjauan dari sudut pandangan dunia komuniti Bidayuh luar bandar

Kajian ini adalah tentang perbezaan antara makna penyertaan yang dikonseptualisasikan oleh agen pentadbir (tahap makro) dengan persepsi penyertaan dan keperkasaan yang dikonstruk berdasarkan pandangan dunia komuniti Bidayuh itu sendiri (tahap mikro). Jurang teoritikal adalah isu yang hendak diterokai dan dibincangkan dalam makalah ini. Bagi tujuan itu, kajian ini menggunakan pendekatan tafsiran logik abduktif berasaskan ontologi idealis dan epistemologi konstruksionis. Kajian ini dijalankan di Daerah Serian, Sarawak. Menggunakan teknik persampelan bertujuan, sejumlah 50 orang informan telah ditemu bual secara mendalam diikuti dengan perbincangan kumpulan secara tak formal. Hasil kajian mendapati penyertaan yang difahami oleh komuniti Bidayuh tidak terhad di peringkat pelaksanaan sahaja tetapi turut melibatkan peringkat yang lain seperti perancangan, penilaian dan pemantauan. Selain itu, ia turut melibatkan kemampuan mereka dalam memahami, menginterpretasi masalah yang dihadapi dan kemudiannya mentakrifkan keperluan serta menterjemahkannya kepada proses tindakan melalui penyertaan dalam organisasi itu sendiri

Development of polymeric nanocomposite (Xyloglucan-co-Methacrylic acid/Hydroxyapatite/SiO 2 ) scaffold for bone tissue engineering applications—In-vitro antibacterial, cytotoxicity and cell culture evaluation

Advancement and innovation in bone regeneration, specifically polymeric composite scaffolds, are of high significance for the treatment of bone defects. Xyloglucan (XG) is a polysaccharide biopolymer having a wide variety of regenerative tissue therapeutic applications due to its biocompatibility, in-vitro degradation and cytocompatibility. Current research is focused on the fabrication of polymeric bioactive scaffolds by freeze drying method for nanocomposite materials. The nanocomposite materials have been synthesized from free radical polymerization using n-SiO2 and n-HAp XG and Methacrylic acid (MAAc). Functional group analysis, crystallinity and surface morphology were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques, respectively. These bioactive polymeric scaffolds presented interconnected and well-organized porous morphology, controlled precisely by substantial ratios of n-SiO2. The swelling analysis was also performed in different media at varying temperatures (27, 37 and 47 °C) and the mechanical behavior of the dried scaffolds is also investigated. Antibacterial activities of these scaffolds were conducted against pathogenic gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria. Besides, the biological behavior of these scaffolds was evaluated by the Neutral Red dye assay against the MC3T3-E1 cell line. The scaffolds showed interesting properties for bone tissue engineering, including porosity with substantial mechanical strength, biodegradability, biocompatibility and cytocompatibility behavior. The reported polymeric bioactive scaffolds can be aspirant biomaterials for bone tissue engineering to regenerate defecated bone

Insight into potential mechanisms of hypobaric hypoxia–induced learning and memory deficit – Lessons from rat studies

Impairment of memory is one of the most frequently reported symptoms during sudden hypoxia exposure in human. Cortical atrophy has been linked to the impaired memory function and is suggested to occur with chronic high-altitude exposure. However, the precise molecular mechanism(s) of hypoxia-induced memory impairment remains an enigma. In this work, we review hypoxia-induced learning and memory deficit in human and rat studies. Based on data from rat studies using different protocols of continuous hypoxia, we try to elicit potential mechanisms of hypobaric hypoxia–induced memory deficit

Effect of vitamin E (Tri E®) on antioxidant enzymes and DNA damage in rats following eight weeks exercise

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Exercise is beneficial to health, but during exercise the body generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) which are known to result in oxidative stress. The present study analysed the effects of vitamin E (Tri E^®) on antioxidant enzymes; superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), catalase (Cat) activity and DNA damage in rats undergoing eight weeks exercise.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Twenty four <it>Sprague-Dawley </it>rats (weighing 320-370 gm) were divided into four groups; a control group of sedentary rats which were given a normal diet, second group of sedentary rats with oral supplementation of 30 mg/kg/d of Tri E^®, third group comprised of exercised rats on a normal diet, and the fourth group of exercised rats with oral supplementation of 30 mg/kg/d of Tri E^®. The exercising rats were trained on a treadmill for 30 minutes per day for 8 weeks. Blood samples were taken before and after 8 weeks of the study to determine SOD, GPx, Cat activities and DNA damage.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>SOD activity decreased significantly in all the groups compared to baseline, however both exercised groups showed significant reduction in SOD activity as compared to the sedentary groups. Sedentary control groups showed significantly higher GPx and Cat activity compared to baseline and exercised groups. The supplemented groups, both exercised and non exercised groups, showed significant decrease in Cat activity as compared to their control groups with normal diet. DNA damage was significantly higher in exercising rats as compared to sedentary control. However in exercising groups, the DNA damage in supplemented group is significantly lower as compared to the non-supplemented group.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In conclusion, antioxidant enzymes activity were generally reduced in rats supplemented with Tri E^®probably due to its synergistic anti-oxidative defence, as evidenced by the decrease in DNA damage in Tri E^®supplemented exercise group.</p

Worldwide trends in underweight and obesity from 1990 to 2022: a pooled analysis of 3663 population-representative studies with 222 million children, adolescents, and adults

Background Underweight and obesity are associated with adverse health outcomes throughout the life course. We estimated the individual and combined prevalence of underweight or thinness and obesity, and their changes, from 1990 to 2022 for adults and school-aged children and adolescents in 200 countries and territories. Methods We used data from 3663 population-based studies with 222 million participants that measured height and weight in representative samples of the general population. We used a Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate trends in the prevalence of different BMI categories, separately for adults (age ≥20 years) and school-aged children and adolescents (age 5–19 years), from 1990 to 2022 for 200 countries and territories. For adults, we report the individual and combined prevalence of underweight (BMI 2 SD above the median). Findings From 1990 to 2022, the combined prevalence of underweight and obesity in adults decreased in 11 countries (6%) for women and 17 (9%) for men with a posterior probability of at least 0·80 that the observed changes were true decreases. The combined prevalence increased in 162 countries (81%) for women and 140 countries (70%) for men with a posterior probability of at least 0·80. In 2022, the combined prevalence of underweight and obesity was highest in island nations in the Caribbean and Polynesia and Micronesia, and countries in the Middle East and north Africa. Obesity prevalence was higher than underweight with posterior probability of at least 0·80 in 177 countries (89%) for women and 145 (73%) for men in 2022, whereas the converse was true in 16 countries (8%) for women, and 39 (20%) for men. From 1990 to 2022, the combined prevalence of thinness and obesity decreased among girls in five countries (3%) and among boys in 15 countries (8%) with a posterior probability of at least 0·80, and increased among girls in 140 countries (70%) and boys in 137 countries (69%) with a posterior probability of at least 0·80. The countries with highest combined prevalence of thinness and obesity in school-aged children and adolescents in 2022 were in Polynesia and Micronesia and the Caribbean for both sexes, and Chile and Qatar for boys. Combined prevalence was also high in some countries in south Asia, such as India and Pakistan, where thinness remained prevalent despite having declined. In 2022, obesity in school-aged children and adolescents was more prevalent than thinness with a posterior probability of at least 0·80 among girls in 133 countries (67%) and boys in 125 countries (63%), whereas the converse was true in 35 countries (18%) and 42 countries (21%), respectively. In almost all countries for both adults and school-aged children and adolescents, the increases in double burden were driven by increases in obesity, and decreases in double burden by declining https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/images/research_banner_face_lab_290.jpgunderweight or thinness. Interpretation The combined burden of underweight and obesity has increased in most countries, driven by an increase in obesity, while underweight and thinness remain prevalent in south Asia and parts of Africa. A healthy nutrition transition that enhances access to nutritious foods is needed to address the remaining burden of underweight while curbing and reversing the increase in obesity

Social Media Interactive Advertising and Purchase Intention of the UAE Customers: An Empirical Analysis

The advent of social media technologies, specifically the phenomenal growth of online and interactive advertising, has assisted various organizations in responding to and communicating with respective consumers at sustainable expenditures through various online channels, including social media, with immense potential and popularity levels. Limited studies have been conducted to examine the connection between consumer engagements by small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and their respective promotional performances, as consumer purchase intention would be notably affected by the ability of an enterprise to interact and share information. Therefore, the current study aims to evaluate the impacts of attitude, brand loyalty, brand image, and brand awareness on interactive advertising and engagement with consumers via social media in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to promote SME digital lifestyle products. Accordingly, a quantitative survey was administered to evaluate 308 responses from customers of companies vending digital lifestyle products before conducting partial least square structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyze the collected data. The results demonstrated significant positive relationships between both brand loyalty and brand awareness and consumer purchase intention, respectively, whereas the relationships between attitude and brand image and consumer purchase intention were separately discovered to be insignificant

Pengaruh politik alam sekitar terhadap persepsi pengundi: kajian kes DUN Kedah

Politik alam sekitar melibatkan isu alam sekitar yang dijadikan isu politik dan menjadi pertimbangan kepada pilihan politik di sesuatu kawasan. Isu alam sekitar dijadikan isu politik dalam kempen politik dan pilihan raya untuk meraih sokongan pengundi. Ia juga melibatkan pembentukan dan pengimplimentasian dasar alam sekitar yang merangkumi peranan pihak berkuasa dan sikap orang ramai terhadap isu-isu yang berkaitan alam sekitar. Pihak berkuasa/Kerajaan terlibat secara langsung dalam merancang dan menangani sebarang isu dan permasalahan yang berkaitan dengan alam sekitar. Isu politik alam sekitar tersebut dikaitkan dengan governans dan pelaksanaan dasar dari segi kelemahan dan ketidaklaksanaan dasar atau peraturan alam sekitar seperti isu kutipan sampah sarap, isu bekalan air, selenggaraan kemudahan awam, isu pembalakan dan pencemaran serta kemusnahan alam sekitar. Kajian ini dilakukan di Negeri Kedah Darul Aman bertujuan untuk mengetahui peranan alam sekitar dalam mempengaruhi pendapat dan pilihan politik responden/pengundi di beberapa kawasan terlibat. Kajian yang menggunakan metod temubual bersemuka ini melibatkan 600 orang responden terdiri daripada pengundi di Negeri Kedah di 16 Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) terpilih yang dijalankan pada 6 April 2012 hingga 9 April 2012. Dapatan kajian menunjukkan bahawa kebanyakan responden di Negeri Kedah mengharapkan kerajaan negeri memberi perhatian yang lebih kepada persekitaran setempat mereka. Responden juga sangat mementingkan alam sekitar untuk memastikan kehidupan menjadi lebih selesa. Justeru mereka mencadangkan agar wakil rakyat kerap turun padang untuk mengatasi masalah alam sekitar di kawasan masing-masing

Ginger Extract (Zingiber officinale Roscoe) Triggers Apoptosis in Hepatocarcinogenesis Induced Rats

ABSTRAK Ekstrak halia telah dilaporkan oleh kumpulan kami sebelum ini yang ianya mempunyai kesan antikanser dan antioksidan dengan menurunkan beban tumor dan peroksidasi lipid pada tikus teraruh kanser. Kajian ini melihat pada pengekspresan protein proapoptosis kaspase-8 dan protein anti-apoptosis Bcl-2 pada tikus teraruh kanser. Tiga puluh ekor tikus Wistar dibahagi kepada lima kumpulan berdasarkan pada diet yang diberi, iaitu i) kawalan (makanan asas), ii) minyak zaitun iii) ekstrak halia (100 mg/kg berat badan) iv) diet kurang kolin + etionin dalam minuman, CDE (untuk mengaruh kanser) dan v) tikus teraruh kanser, CDE + ekstrak halia. Tikus dibunuh pada minggu ke-lapan dan tisu hepar dikeluarkan untuk pengesanan protein pro-apoptosis dan antiapoptosis, kaspase-8 dan Bcl-2 melalui kaedah imunohistokimia. Pengamatan H&amp;E menujukkan terdapat banyak sel oval yang mengesahkan terdapat kanser hepar pada kumpulan yang menerima diet CDE. Terdapat 91.6% (11/12) sampel dari kumpulan CDE yang menunjukkan kehadiran sel oval dan pengeksresan Bcl-2. Tetapi apabila kumpulan CDE dirawat dengan ekstrak halia, sel oval dan peng-ekspresan Bcl-2 menurun kepada 8.4% (1/12). Bagi kaspase-8 pula, 41.7% (5/12) sampel dari kumpulan CDE menunjukkan pewarnaan positif dan meningkat ke 100% (12/12) apabila dirawat dengan ekstrak halia. Penemuan dari kajian ini menunjukkan ekstrak halia mempunyai kesan antikanser dengan mengaruh apoptosis melalui peningkatan protein pro apoptosis, kaspase-8, dan penurunan protein anti-apoptosis Bcl-2. Kata kunci: tikus teraruh kanser, ekstrak halia, apoptosis, kaspase-8, Bcl-2 ABSTRACT Ginger extract has been reported previously by our group to exhibit anticancer and antioxidant effects by reducing tumour burden and lipid peroxidation respectively in hepatocarcinogenesis induced rats. The current study examined the expression of proapoptotic protein caspase-8 and anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 in hepatocarcinogenesis treated rats. Thirty normal male Wistar rats were divided into 5 groups based on the diet given: i) control (normal rat chow), ii) olive oil, iii) ginger extract (100mg/kg body weight), iv) choline deficient diet + ethionine, CDE (to induce liver cancer) and v) CDE+ ginger extract. Rats were killed at week 8, and liver tissues were excised for immunohistochemical study to identify pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic proteins, caspase-8 and Bcl-2. The observation on H&amp;E staining confirmed the CDE diet induced liver cancer as indicated by the presence of numerous oval cells. Identification of Bcl-2 expression showed that 91.6% (11/12) of the samples from the CDE group revealed positive staining while treatment with ginger extract however inhibited the expression with only 8.4% (1/12) samples showing positive staining for Bcl-2. As for caspase-8 protein, 41.7% (5/12) of the samples from CDE group showed positive staining, which increased to 100% (12/12) with ginger extract treatment. Our findings suggest that ginger extract has an anticancer effect by inducing apoptosis in liver cancer cells via upregulation of the expression of pro-apoptotic protein, caspase-8 and down-regulation of the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2